Key values
Source: compilation of GESTIS, NIOSH and ISO/IEC 80079-20-1 data; the conservative end of the range between sources (lowest LEL and AIT, highest UEL).
Explosive range and ppm values
Ethanol can ignite when mixed with air between 3.1 % and 27.7 % by volume. Below the LEL the mixture is too lean to ignite, above the UEL too rich. A rich mixture re-enters the range when it is diluted with air, so concentrations above the upper limit are not safe either.
The lower explosive limit in ppm and g/m³. Useful to compare a gas detector's %LEL reading with ppm values in a measurement report.
| Concentration | ppm | g/m³ (20 °C) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 LEL (100 %LEL) | 31,000 | 59.4 |
| 20 %LEL | 6,200 | 11.87 |
| 10 %LEL | 3,100 | 5.94 |
Lighter or heavier than air?
Ethanol vapour is heavier than air: relative density 1.59 (air = 1). A release sinks and can collect in pits, trenches, drains and basements and travel a long way along the ground.
Flash point and liquid category
The flash point of ethanol is 12 °C, the boiling point 78.4 °C. As room temperature (20 °C) is above the flash point, an ignitable vapour can form above the surface of an open container or a spill.
With a flash point below 23 °C and boiling point above 35 °C, it is a Category 2 flammable liquid under the CLP Regulation: H225 “Highly flammable liquid and vapour”, signal word “Danger”.
For another liquid, use the flammable liquid category calculator. The product label and safety data sheet apply; mixtures have different values.
Ex equipment selection
Autoignition temperature 363 °C. The maximum surface temperature of equipment in the zone must stay below it: T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 are suitable; T1 is not, because the limit is not below the autoignition temperature.
- T1450 °C not suitable
- T2300 °C suitable
- T3200 °C suitable
- T4135 °C suitable
- T5100 °C suitable
- T685 °C suitable
- IIA not suitable
- IIB suitable
- IIC suitable
Gas group IIB: equipment marked IIB or IIC may be used. The equipment protection level (EPL: Ga, Gb, Gc) depends on the zone, not on the substance; the zone is decided in the explosion protection document from the release and the ventilation. Specific conditions in the certificate (X) and the ambient temperature range are checked separately.
Where is it found?
Used as a solvent in disinfectants, laboratories, pharmaceutical and cosmetics production; also found in distilleries and as a fuel additive.
Where these values sit in the explosion protection document
- Substance properties. The first step of the document is to record these values, with their source, for every flammable substance on site.
- Hazardous area classification. The lower explosive limit and the density are inputs to the release calculation and to the direction in which the zone extends.
- Equipment selection. The temperature class and the gas group decide whether Ex equipment in the zone is suitable.
This page does not decide zones. The type and extent of a zone are calculated from where, how often and how much is released, and from the ventilation.
Sources
Explosive limits, autoignition temperature, gas group, flash and boiling point: compilation of GESTIS, NIOSH and ISO/IEC 80079-20-1 data; the conservative end of the range between sources (lowest LEL and AIT, highest UEL).
The relative density is calculated from the molar mass (M / 28.96). The ppm and g/m³ values apply at 20 °C and 1 atm (molar volume 24.055 L/mol). The temperature class follows the rule that the surface temperature must stay below the autoignition temperature.
This page is for information. For the substance on your site, the current safety data sheet (section 9) and the relevant standards apply. All substances are in the explosive limits table.
Frequently asked questions
What is the LEL of ethanol in ppm?
3.1 % by volume, that is 31,000 ppm. 10 %LEL corresponds to 3,100 ppm and 20 %LEL to 6,200 ppm.
Is ethanol heavier than air?
Yes, its vapour is heavier than air. Relative density 1.59 (air = 1): a release sinks and can collect in pits, trenches and drains.
Which Ex equipment is suitable for ethanol?
Temperature class: T2, T3, T4, T5 or T6 (T1 not suitable). Gas group: equipment marked IIB or IIC. The protection level (EPL) depends on the zone decided in the explosion protection document, not on the substance.
What is the flash point of ethanol?
12 °C. As room temperature is above it, an ignitable vapour can form above an open container or a spill. Under CLP it is a Category 2 flammable liquid (H225).